Kirituhi vs Maori Traditional?

[Stitch626]

I didn't really see anything on this when I searched so correct me if I'm wrong for posting this as a new thread...

I was working on the drawing for my leg, and had an idea to do the fern I'll be adding sort of as a transition into the bottom of my leg, and the thought crossed my head to do it with three real fern becoming a Hawaiian band. But then I was looking at it and remembered that it's almost an insult to do that, frowned upon by the Maori. Which after a bit of looking around I found the Kirituhi.

What I can't figure out is what is it about the designs that actually truly distinguish one from the other...

Any answers from you more versed tattooer's and collectors?

[kylegrey]

Hey Stitch, true traditional Maori tattooing is tribe specific and the tattoo tells a story relevant to that area and its history .The Kirituhi has been developed for europeans or non-maori descendents who want a tattoo to have the look of ta moko or traditional design .Your idea of incorporating a Hawaiian band is pretty close to the mark as the Maori people originated from the Islands of Hawaii and sailed to New Zealand by canoe .

[Stitch626]

hmm, that's exactly the info I've been finding, I guess I'm trying to figure out more in depth, I'll try to explain when I'm more coherent.

[RoryQ]

I've got a book on Maori tattooing called 'Mau Moko', written by a group of Maori academics (most of them tattooed) who interviewed Maori artists and people with a lot of moko. The book is a fairly academic survey of the past, present, future etc. One of the chapters is a fairly robust presentation of all the different strong feelings about moko and kirituhi. It might provide some of the perspectives you're after?

Amazon.com: Mau Moko: The World of Maori Tatoo (9780824832537): Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Becky Nunes, Linda Waimarie Nikora, Mohi Rua, Rolinda Karapu: Books

YouTube interview with the authors

[Stitch626]

Thanks, I'll defiantly check it out!!